Apparatus for lighting photographic subjects



Feb. 18, 1930. c. w. BHOSYS APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING PHOTOGRAPHIC SUBJECTSOriginal Filed June 22. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet .-uummmmummw Feb. 18, 1930.c, w, BHQSYS 1,747,416

' APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING PHOTOGRAPHIC SUBJECTS Original Filed June 22.1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 612 o v o o 1 W 44 has I A Hdrne y FehlS, 1930. vW OSY 1,747,416

APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING PHOTOGRAPHIC SUBJECTS Original Filed June 22.1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fnz/enfor I L Charles Eff/ways A ltarne PatentedFeb. 18, 1930 CHARLES WILLIAM BHOSYS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING PHOTOGRAPHIC SUBJECiTS Substitute for applicationSerial No. 570,272, filed June 22, 1922. This application filed January10, 1927. Serial No. 160,316.

This invention relates to apparatus for directing and controlling lightto be thrown upon photographic subjects, and more particularly refers toa portable device which may be used both for enerating and forcontrolling the distribution of light to be used for photographicpurposes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an appartus forlighting photographic subjects adapted for use both in photographinglive or still subjects and in making reproductions of pictures andprints, so as to place at the disposal of the average photographer asimple and practical device adapted for use in connection with a widerange and variety of photographic Work.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for lighting photographicsubjects, adapted for use both in photographing live or still subjectsand in making reproductions of pictures and prints, said apparatus beingof a portable character and adapted to be produced at a relativelymoderate cost.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fullyappear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed inthe appended claims.

This application is a substitute of application N 0. 570,272, filed June22, 1922, and is to a certain extent related to the subject matter ofanother patent for Apparatus for making photographic reproductionsgranted to me Sept. 21, 1926, No. 1,600,709.

In the annexed drawings, I illustrate a type of apparatus combining in asingle device the possibility of lighting subjects to be photographed asWell as the possibility of lighting and displaying pictures or prints tobe reproduced, these being branches of the photographic art of adistinct and separate nature.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation partly sectioned of an apparatusembodying my invention suitable both for lighting subjects to bephotographed and for lighting subjects to be reproduced;

Fig. 2 is a detail rear view in elevation illustrating the means ofadjusting the clamping frame of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view in elevation partly broken away of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1, set for lighting the subject or subjects to bephotographed; and

Fig. 4 is a front view in elevation partly broken away of the same.

One of the features of my invention resides in the possibility ofproviding an intense illumination adapted to be adjustably' distributedupon a subject to be photographed, by means of an apparatus of simpledesign, preferably of a portable and inexpensive character.

The use of artificial light for taking pictures in photographic studiosgenerally entails the necessity of making expensive installations aswell as the employment of powerful lamps. By using a number of bulbs ofrelatively moderate intensity, suitably distributed upon a board orcombination uf boards, of a portable and adjustable nature, I am able toproduce an apparatus of relatively inexpensive construction occupying avery small space and adapted to be placed at any point in the studio tobest advantage; so that the device only may be used for the illuminationof a subject or the same may be so placed that it will cooperate withthe daylight available in properly illuminating said subject.

In order to enlarge the field of application of my device, so that itsusefulness may be considerably increased, by means of a specialconstruction thereof, I produce an apparatus comprising means such asdescribed and claimed in my patent above referred to, whereby the devicemay be used for making reproductions of pictures or prints; saidapparatus being so constructed that it may readily be changed into alighting device adapted for illuminating subjects to be photographedenabling the photographer to produce high grade work of all kinds, andto save valuable space by employing a single apparatus of a relativelysimple construction and moderate in cost.

This improved apparatus is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4:, where 27designates a stand, preferably portable, carrying a panel 28, on whichare mounted a plurality of photographic bulbs 29 arranged in rectangularseries close to the periphery of the panel. Said bulbs are inwardlyinclined, from the plane of panel 28, to converge towards the space infront of the central portion of said panel.

The vertical panel is provided with two sides 30, 31, a bottom 32 andatop 33 hinged to said panel, which may be folded inwardly to form aboxlike structure adapted to surround said panel andelectric bulbs, asshown. Said structure may be maintained in its closed position in anysuitable manner for instance, b means of hook and eye connection 34. Theront part of the box structure is constituted by a panel 35, which ispreferably of a sectional construction com rising interlocking sections36, 37, 38, 39, tting one inside of the other, so as to make the openingin said front panel adjustable by steps according to the size of thepicture to be reproduced, section 39 being provided with the smallestopening 40. Said panel sections may be secured in any convenient mannerfor instance, by means of clip 41.

Pictures to be reproduced may be mounted on panel 28 in any convenientmanner; but it is well that means be provided for insuring exposure ofthe pictures in a perfectly flat condition, and that means he alsoprovided for adjustment of said pictures in a vertical and a horizontalplane. The adjustment in a vertical plane, makes it easy toplace thepicture to be reproduced in line with the opening in the front panel,and the adjustment in a horizontal plane provides means adjusting thecapacity of the li ht directed a ainst the picture and also t 1e angleat wiich the rays of light issuing from the sides of the bulbs strikethe picture and the glass plate against which the picture is held.

In order to achieve these results, I provide panel 28 with a centralcircular opening 42, in which is inserted and retained circular panel43, so as to be rotatable around its center in a vertical plane. Saidpanel 43 is provided with a central rectangular opening 44, and isintegral with an apron 45 horizontally extending towards the rear,formed with a dovetailed slot 46 from front to rear. In said slot isslidably inserted a clamping frame 47, of the ordinary type used forprinting copies from negatives; said clamping frame being provided witha glass panel 48 and a foldable block 49 maintaining the picture 50 tobe reproduced flat against the surface of glass 48 by means of pressureexerted by springs 51.

The lower portion of said clamping frame is provided with a lug 52, intowhich is inserted a screw-53, operated by a crank lever 54; and by meansof the same, the clamping frame may be caused to move towards or awayfrom the front of panel 28, thus exposing picture 50 to a more or lessintense illumination.

The adjustment of panel 43, and consequently of picture 50 in a verticalplane, may be effected by hand; but in order to insure stability of thesystem, I prefer to effect the same by means of a worm 55 carried by ashaft 56 operated by means of crank lever 57 said worm bein in mesh witha worm segment 58 attache to apron 45. 'In practice an adjustment ofabout sixty degrees, as made possible by the worm segment shown, will beYite suflicient, since it is possible to clamp t e icture in frame 47 atthe center, and practica y in the right position at the start; the 1adjustment being used only for the'correction of small errors.

If a pigture of large dimensions should have to reproduced, beyond thecapacity of frame 47 to hold, it is, of course, possible to hold thesame against thefront surface of panels 28, 43, by means of a suitableglass panel secured to the same in any convenient manner.

For the purpose of using the ap aratus for lighting subjects to bephotograplied, I provide an additional upper panel 59 hin ed at 60 totop 33, which upper anel may be olded to the rear as shown 1n ig. 1,when the apparatus is used for reproduction work; on the other hand,said upper panel will be in alignment with top 33 when unfolded andextended to the front as shown in Figs. 3, 4.

Said panel carries two rows of bulbs 61, 62, which are mounted at rightangle to the panel, but which will be inclined towards the front of thesubject when panel 59 is inclined upwardly as shown in Figs. 3, 4.- Top33 is mounted on a shaft 63 carrying a worm segment 64, which may beoperated by means of a worm 65, so that to 33, and with it panel 59 maybe set at any esired angle.

By opening the sides 30, 31, and the bottom 32 of the box-like structureused for making reproductions, as shown in Fi 3, 4, the apparatus ismade ready for use in connection with the taking of pictures.

The rays of light emitted from the sides of bulbs 29 strike panel 28 atan angle and are reflected thereby in a practically horizontaldirection; so that a subject to be hotographed placed beside the panelwill e exposed to both the light directly issuin from the bulbs and tothe light reflected y the panel.

At the same time sides 30, 31, being pivotally mounted may also be setin any desired position to reflect the light issuing from bulbs 29 atdifferent angles, thus providing means for regulating the light directedupon the subject to be photographed, both as to intensity and as todirection of the reflected rays.

Bulbs 61, 62, carried by upper panel 59 will direct rays of lightforward, accordin to the inclination of the panel and the pane itselfwill intensify the illumination thus produced by reflecting the lightemitted by the bulbs.

In this manner a beam of light is thrown downwardly ahead of the deviceso as for instance to illuminate various persons to be photographed in agroup, independently of one another. When the a paratus is used as adevice for lighting sub ects to be photographed, it is placed at oneside of the subect or subjects; so that the horizontally directed raysissuing from panel 28 and its sides light issuing from panel 59 is alsoextremely useful in setting in evidence, details of a subject such as aperson or a piece of sculpture and the like which would be lost if sideillumination only were used; this advantage is also of great value inthe field of commercial pho-. tography where every detail of thephotographed objects must be made apparent.

By adjusting the inclination of panel 59 as well as the inclination ofthe sides 30, 31 and by se arately, controlling the various bulbs, an innite variety of lighting efiects may be produced, which enable thephotographer to turn out his work to the best advantage. The propercontrol of light is one of the essentials in modern photography ifpictures of a high artistic valueare to be produced, and heretofore thisfactor has been the chief difficulty confronting the operators in photographic studios. a

The necessity of providing ample 1llum1- nation and a flexible andthorough control thereof, had led to the adoption of expensiveinstallations which are beyond the reach of the average studio ofmoderate size; my present invention makes it possible to obtain all thedesired advantages permitting the pro-- duction of the highest grade ofwork at comparatively small expense.

As a general rule, when artificial llght s used in a photographicstudio, the same 1s not projected directly upon the sub]ect but iscontrolled and reflected by means of reflectors or screens, the mainobject of which is usually to create a dilfuse light effect 1n order toavoid sharp reliefs and high lights in the picture.

It has been my experience however, that while light thus reflected anddlflused 1mproves to a certain extent, the relative tone values of apicture, the necessary ntensity of illumination is usually lacking, sothat the work produced is not as good as would be obtained by daylight.

It is therefore of the utmost importance that the reflected lightefi'ect be retained but at the same time it is equally important that elight from another ad oining is entirely avoided. The

{he gull intensity of the light available be uti- By combining as I do,the direct light obtainable from the bulbs with the li ht reflected bythe screens or panels, I o tain a light which is both powerful andmellow, providing an ideal condition for the taking of ictures byartificial light. Moreover, the lig t is easily controllable both onaccount of the individual control of the bulbs and on account of thegradual control of the inclination of the upper panel made possible bythe gear operating mechanism illustrated.

My apparatus may therefore be used in conjunction with all classes ofwork; thereby solving practically every lighting problem confronting theaverage photographer without entailing the necessity of making expensivepermanent installations.

From the foregoin it is seen that my apparatus represents a ecidedimprovement in the photographic art, in providing as it does meansforusing artificial light to the best advantage both for taking and forreproducing pictures.

It is obvious that my invention may be altered in its various detailswithout substantially departing from the inventive idea, and accordinglythe drawings will be understood as being intended for illustrativepurposes only and not in a limiting sense. Therefore, I reserve myselfthe right to carry my invention into practice in any way or manner whichmay enter fairly into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for lighting photographic subjects, comprising a stand, avertical panel having picture holding .means mounted thereon, anotherpanel mounted at the top of the same movable around a horizontal axis, aplurality of electric bulbs carried by both panels, and means foradjusting the inclination of said movable panel.

2. Apparatus for lighting photographic subjects, comprising a stand, avertical panel mounted thereon, another panel mounted at the top of thesame movable around a horizontal axis, the front part of said panelbeing foldable upon its rear part, two sides and a bottom hinged to saidvertical panel adapted to form a box-like structure around the sametogether with said rear top panel part, lighting'means carried by saidpanels, and adjustable picture holding means carried by said verticalpanel.

3. Apparatus for lighting photographic sub ects, comprising a stand, avertical panel mounted thereon, another panel mounted at the top of saidpanel being foldable upon its rear part, two sides and a bottom hingedto said vertical panel adapted to form a boxlike structure around thesame together with said rear top panel part, lighting means carr1ed bysa1d panel, and means for closing the front part of said box-likestructure, said means having an opening suflicient to expose a pictureheld by said icture holding means.

4. Apparatus for lighting photographic subjects, comprising a stand, avertical panel mounted thereon, another anel mounted at the top of thesame movab e around a horizontal axis, two sides and a bottom adapted toform a box-like structure around said vertical panel together with saidtop panel, lighting means carried by said panels, picture holding meanscarried by said vertical panel, means for closin the front part of saidbox-like structure aving an opening adapted to expose a picture held bysaid icture holdin means, and means for adusting the inc ination of saidtop panel.

5. Apparatus for lighting photographic subjects, comprising a stand, avertical anel mounted thereon, lighting means movab y associated withand carried by said panel means adapted to surround said panel forming abox-like structure therewith, picture holding means carried by saidpanel and means for closing the front part of said boxlike structure,havin an opening adapted to expose a picture hel by said picture holdingmeans.

CHARLES WILLIAM BHOSYS.

